Monday, Mar. 8 through Sunday, Mar. 14, 2021
Issue No. 371
Collegiate Basketball Honors
Stanford Cardinal basketball coach Tara VanDerveer was named Pac-12 Coach of the Year. Coach VanDerveer is pictured celebrating her 1,000th victory versus USC in February of 2017. Photo by Darren Yamashita.
USF Dons freshman guard Ioanna Krimili was named the WCC
Newcomer of the Year. Photo by Darren Yamashita.
Santa Clara Broncos freshman guard Ashley Hiraki was named to the
WCC All-Freshman Team. Photo by Darren Yamashita.
Saint Mary's Gaels freshman forward Ellie Croco was named to the
WCC All-Freshman Team. Photo by Darren Yamashita.
Saint Mary's Gaels freshman center Mitchell Saxen was named to
the WCC All-Freshman Team. Photo by Darren Yamashita.
Cal Bears freshman guard/forward Dalayah Daniels was named as honorable mention to the Pac-12 All-Freshman team.
Santa Clara Broncos senior forward Josip Vrankic was named to
the WCC First Team. Photo by Darren Yamashita.
Stanford Cardinal fifth year guard Anna Wilson (#3) was named a Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year. Photo by Darren Yamashita.
Stanford Cardinal junior guard Lacie Hull (#24) was named the Pac-12 Sixth Player of the Year. Photo by Rich Yee.
A's, Giants, Warriors,
Kings & Sharks Schedules
Spring Training has arrived, which means we’re stretching and loosening up for the 2021 Giant Race Series Presented by Alaska Airlines! Join us as we virtually run through Scottsdale, Sacramento, San Jose and San Francisco.

Registration is now open in all cities!

By signing up for each race, you will receive a finisher’s medal, commemorative race bib and (new this year) limited edition hat! Headwear styles will be unique to each series stop and revealed as we get closer to race day. Plus - register for San Francisco and you’ll reserve your 2021 Giants Player Bobblehead (we’re excited about this one). Take advantage of our early bird pricing on ALL races!

Scottsdale, AZ | March 27 | 10K & 5K
Sacramento, CA | April 24 | 10K & 5K
San Jose, CA | July 17 | 5 Mile & 5K
San Francisco, CA | Sept 12 | Half Marathon, 10K & 5K

As Arizona is our first stop next month, enjoy a sneak peek at the
Scottsdale Race Kit.
The Oakland A's, in cooperation with Alameda County and Major League Baseball, announced they have received approval to welcome fans back to the Oakland Coliseum for the 2021 season,
beginning on Opening Day, Thursday, April 1.

"We are excited to safely welcome fans back to our ballpark for the upcoming season," said A's President Dave Kaval. "We thank Governor Newsom for his leadership and guidance during this process, and Alameda County for partnering with us to develop a comprehensive plan that complies with local health directives and provides a safe experience for our fans, employees, players, and vendors."
Cal Bears 1
Utah Utes 0
Cal sophomore Keely Roy (#2) scored the lone goal of the game as the Bears defeated the Utah Utes, 1-0, at Witter Rugby Field in Berkeley on Sunday, March 7. Photo by Darren Yamashita.
Goalkeeper Angelina Anderson made five saves to record her second clean slate of the season. Photo by Darren Yamashita.
Midfielder Jadyn Shinn led all players with three shots attempted. To view a game photo album, visit our Facebook Page and be sure to LIKE us or visit www.ultimatesportsguide.net. Caption and photo by Darren Yamashita.
Hardly Trivial by T. Buff
Everybody knows a basketball double-double is a performance
in which a player accumulates a double-digit total in two of five statistical categories— points, rebounds, assists, steals or blocked shots, in a game. Double digits come in different levels. 10's, 20's, 30's and 40's... Only one player in NBA history has a double-double in the 40's. Who is it?

(See answer below...)
BUS 180 — Technology and Innovation
in the Year of Empty Arenas
Quarter: Spring
Course Format: Live Online
(About Formats)
Date(s): Apr 13 - Jun 1
Drop Deadline: Apr 15
Tuition: $545
Day(s): Tuesdays
Duration: 8 weeks
Time: 7:00 - 8:50 pm (PT)
Unit: 1
Instructor: Andy Dolich
Status: Registration opens Feb. 22, 8:30 a.m. (PT)
Many of the 140 million fans who would have attended live sporting events in the last year have taken a seat in front of the television and other digital devices as the pandemic has kept arenas and stadiums empty or with greatly reduced in-person spectators. The same is true for cultural and arts entertainment venues. Despite the physical divide, fans and audiences are getting involved because innovators are exploring new strategies of engagement. Focusing on spectator sports, this course will explore the creative realities of fan-immersive experiences based on new sports platforms such as FCF (Fan Controlled Football) along with fantasy sports, avatars, video streaming, virtual ticketing, and more. We also will look at the future long-term interplay of business economics and fan engagement, and how—if and when live spectators can physically re-enter venues, even at reduced capacity—industry innovators will be exploring new technologies to enhance the experiences for the virtual and live spectators of the world of sports and entertainment. Scheduled as guest speakers for this course are Jamie Pardi, co-founder and CEO, FanCompass; David Yorke, co-founder, Umpires Media; Sohrob Farudi, co-founder and CEO, Fan Controlled Football; Mindi Bach, senior director of sports PR, Oracle; and Ted Griggs, former executive
at NBC Sports Group.

Andy Dolich, President, Dolich Consulting; Chief Operating Officer, Fan Controlled Football League

Andy Dolich has held executive positions in the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL. He is a co-author of 20 Secrets to Success for NCAA Student-Athletes Who Won't Go Pro, a co-host of the podcast Life in the Front Office, and a columnist
for the Ultimate Sports Guide.
All-American Girls
Professional Baseball League
Former All-American Girls Professional Baseball League players stand in front of the entrance of the National Baseball Museum Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. (Photo: Baseball Museum Hall of Fame.)
Amaury

All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, 1943-1954

by Amaury Pi-González
This month is Women’s History Month and to honor the women who played in this professional baseball league, we will go back in time to the 1940s, during World War II.

Mr. Phillip Knight Wrigley, the chewing gum manufacturer and owner of the Chicago Cubs, always a promoter of baseball, founded the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL), a baseball league where women will play.

Mr. Wrigley figured that since the military draft was calling young men to serve (including some baseball players) and while many minor leagues disbanded, it would be a great idea to have a league exclusively made of women players. This would keep the interest in the game of baseball while the men served in the war around the world.

Mr. Wrigley asked the assistant general manager of the Chicago Cubs to organize a committee to develop ideas on how to proceed. Originally the idea was to play at established major league parks, but that did not materialized. After much discussion, a Women Softball League (non-profit) was founded in 1943.

However, the short distances from one base to another and pitching underhanded did not bode well and many thought it will not be the best representation of “baseball.” Softball and baseball differ in many ways, including different rules.

In 1950 independent team owners purchased the league. Cities chosen were Racine and Kenosha in Wisconsin; Rockford in Illinois; and South Bend in Indiana. Each team consisted of 15 players, a manager/coach, a business manager and a woman chaperon.

To attract more interest by the public they selected some former Major League players and minor league players and sports figures as managers and coaches. After the War and with the popularity of television and the Major Leagues, they could not survive financially. They played until 1954, their last season. The Rockford Peaches were the most successful team and won a total of four titles.

Through the organization of the Players Association in 1986 and through their efforts to gain recognition by the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1988, the league has now come to be recognized as what it was in actuality; the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL).
“There's no crying in baseball,” scolds manager Jimmy Dugan (Tom Hanks) to an offending team player in the 1992 classic, A League of Their Own

The story was featured in the film, A League of Their Own, starring Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, Madonna, Rosie O’Donnell, Lorie Petty and others. At the end of the movie a few of the original players that were still living (not the actors) appeared as visitors at the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, where there is an exhibit dedicated to them.

The film made around $132 million. The most memorable line in the movie, from manager Jimmy Dugan, played by Tom Hanks, is when he tells one of his players, “There’s no crying in baseball!”

Tom Hanks, an Oakland native and two-time Academy Award winner and arguably the best American film actor, was once a vendor during the glory years in the 1970s at the Oakland Coliseum, when the Oakland Athletics won three consecutive World Series.

The last time I visited the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, in 2009, one of the most interesting exhibits was the one dedicated to women in baseball. “Diamond Dreams” documents the story of this league and these great women.

That exhibit was made permanent by the Hall of Fame in 2017. Every baseball fan or history aficionado should plan to visit this great American museum, where the National Pastime is always in full display. Many women during WWII worked, like Rosie the Riveter, building the weapons which won the war, as well as other industries. This is the story of these women's contributions which entertained the country during a very difficult time in history.

Museum Information: The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is currently open seven days a week, until 5PM. Toll-free number: 1-877-290-1300. Address: 25 Main Street, Cooperstown, New York, 13326. customerservice@baseballhall.org

Stay well and stay tuned.
* * *
Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the vice president of the MLB Hispanic Heritage Hall of Fame Museum and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com
In the Shadow of Obscurity
359 - Arif
359 - Pete
Author Arif Khatib (above left)
As a person who has traveled the world and chronicled his journey, and recently completed his memoirs for his family, Arif Khatib set out to create a book that would combine three of his passions: sports, history and social justice, while shining a much-needed light on the contributions of forgotten and unheard-of athletes of color. The Shadow of Obscurity: Toiling in a Reluctant Society realizes his vision.
Author Pete Elman (above right)
Pete Elman is a musician, journalist, author and teacher. Originally from Washington, D.C., he grew up loving rock and roll, sports and history. His father, a Justice Department lawyer who argued cases in the Supreme Court—most notably Brown vs. Board of Education—imbued in young Peter a strong sense of social justice.
Where The Bay Comes To Play!
The BEST Bay Area sports photos from
Michael Zagaris, Ed Jay, Rich Yee, Darren Yamashita,
Ron Sellers, Alex Ho, Rob Edwards, Kenneth Wong,
Timothy Reynolds and Larry Rosa 
San Francisco 49ers
49ers Open Applications for the Dr. Harry Edwards
"Follow Your Bliss" Award Grant
The 49ers will honor five Bay Area educators and/or administrators with $5,000 each for in-class or digital resources and other necessary materials
 
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The San Francisco 49ers Foundation and its award-winning 49ers EDU program announced that applications have opened for the Dr. Harry Edwards “Follow Your Bliss” Award Grant. This year’s application will focus on highlighting teachers who have gone above and beyond in the face of COVID-19 and distance learning. The 49ers Foundation, Extra Yard for Teachers and Micron Technology, Inc. are excited to recognize the dedication and hard work of teachers that often go unnoticed.
 
In 2020, the award expanded to honor five full-time, K-12 educators, administrators and community educators across the San Francisco Bay Area who lead the future generation with purpose, passion, dedication, and love. Each of the five awardees will receive a $5,000 stipend for in-classroom or digital materials and other necessary resources for the 2021 – 2022 academic year, mentorship from Dr. Edwards for the recipients and his or her fellow educators, and formal recognition at a virtual 49ers event with family
and colleagues.
 
“Over this past year, parents across the country became teachers and learned firsthand what it took to day in and day out to not only teach their kids, but keep them engaged and motivated to learn,” said Jesse Lovejoy. “It is has never been more important to spread Dr. Edwards’ message of leading with purpose, passion, dedication, and love and thanks to the help of Extra Yard for Teachers, Micron and the NFL Foundation, we are able to celebrate five Bay Area educators who do just that.”
San Jose Earthquakes Update
Earthquakes Issue Statement on Fans Being Allowed at Outdoor Sporting Events Starting April 1

SAN JOSE, Calif.  - The San Jose Earthquakes issued the following statement on the California Department of Public Health's (CDPH) decision to allow fans at outdoor sporting events, beginning April 1:

We're excited to safely welcome fans back to Earthquakes Stadium when the 2021 Major League Soccer season kicks off next month. The Quakes appreciate Santa Clara County and the California Department of Public Health for their respective guidance to keep our community safe, and we're looking forward to continue making our home a welcoming meeting place for all.

In the most restrictive purple tier, capacity will be limited to 100 people and attendance will be limited to regional visitors. Capacity will be limited to 20% in the red tier, 33% in the orange tier, and 67% in the least-restrictive yellow tier. Attendance at outdoor sporting events will be limited to in-state visitors, regardless of tier. For more information, click here.
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
Romain Grosjean in his No. 51 Honda powering through turn 6

INDYCAR Teams visit WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca to prepare for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES Season

MONTEREY, Calif., March 1, 2021 – Nine transporters, several chartered jets and a colorful mix of rental cars arrived in Monterey Sunday as a prequel to what this year’s Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey will look like in September. Four teams competing in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES are spending every minute of today to afford drivers valuable track time on the technically-challenging WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, while engineers tweak the chassis, engine and Firestone tires to fine tune the car’s setup to achieve optimal performance.
 
Teams and their drivers participating today are Dale Coyne Racing (Ed Jones and Romain Grosjean), Meyer Shank Racing (Helio Castroneves and Jack Harvey), Ed Carpenter Racing (Rinus VeeKay), and Arrow McLaren SP (Juan Pablo Montoya, Pato O’Ward and Felix Rosenqvist). Former Formula 1 racer Romain Grosjean is making his debut at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
 
“The entire business community enjoys welcoming INDYCAR athletes, their crews and owners to Monterey,” commented John Narigi, president and general manager of Monterey’s WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. “It is exciting to see and hear the finely tuned race cars on track, and to witness the intensity in the pits, even in the non-race environment.”
 
The paddock and grandstands are closed for today’s testing, yet there are still some INDYCAR fans who paid the day-use fee to watch the sessions from the surrounding hillsides. For campers, the INDYCARS provide another unexpected benefit of camping in the Laguna Seca Recreation Area.
 
The track rental program is possible through a welcomed adherence to the strict health and safety protocols that were put into place last June. This includes registration logs at the gate, temperature checks at the paddock entry, face coverings, physical distancing, and contact tracing procedures. 
 
Complete ticket packages and camping for the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey, September 17-19, are on sale by visiting www.WeatherTechRaceway.com, sending a message to tickets@Laguna-Seca.com or by calling the Tickets and Accommodations specialists at
831-242-8200.
Hardly Trivial Answer by T. Buff
The only player in NBA history to record a 40-40 is Wilt Chamberlain.

Chamberlain achieved the feat eight times in his career, four of which were in his rookie season. Thanks to Wikipedia, https://bit.ly/2O6ZfrW, for all that info and the photo. (No. 42 is the Golden State Warriors own Nate Thurmond!)

Suggestions? Caught me off-base for misinformation?
One.T.Buff@gmail.com is where you can find me...
Sports Prep Star -- Kamran Murray
Menlo School-Atheron - Senior -
Cross Country
Kamran Murray (center) helped lead the Knights to a 2-0 start this spring when he took first place in a March 4 dual meet at Woodside Priory. Murray ran the 2.4 mile course in a time of 11 minutes, 59.40 seconds. His Menlo teammate Justin Pretre (left), a sophomore, finished second just 15 tenths of a second behind him. The Knights won the meet 18-37. The victory followed a narrow 27-29 win over Crystal Springs-Upland in the team's season opener. Photo: Malcolm Slaney/Menlo Athletics. Reprinted courtesy Sportstars Magazine.
Montrose, Colorado
For the best real estate listings homes and property on
Colorado's Western Slope, visit www.montrosecoloradorealestate/PropertySearch.html
In the House!
The 2019 Fall/Winter edition of the Ultimate Sports Guide, a San Francisco Bay Area sports reference publication published twice a year for avid Bay Area and Northern California sports fans, is in the house. The Ultimate Sports Guide is distributed free of charge or may be ordered via subscription. Each seasonal edition provides professional and collegiate team coverage through commentary, photo essays and player profiles. To order, visit www.ultimatesportsguide.net or send $5 to: Ultimate Sports Guide,
P.O. Box 4515, Berkeley, CA 94704. Write theultimatesportsguide@gmail.com
or call (510) 845-2035. Cover photo: Rich Yee. 
Back Issues
not to be missed!
Offering superb photography and
entertaining chronicles


Click here for 2019 editions.

Weekly Bay Area
Sports Calendar
Monday, Mar. 8 through
Sunday, Mar. 14, 2021
Monday, March 8
San Francisco Giants @ Arizona Diamondbacks, 1:05 p.m.
Oakland A's @ Kansas City Royals, 1:05 p.m.
San Jose Sharks vs. St. Louis Blues, 7:30 p.m.
Saint Mary's (MBB) vs. Gonzaga, 6 p.m., Semifinals, WCC Tournament
USF (WBB) vs. BYU, 2 p.m., WCC Semifinals
Santa Clara Broncos (WBB) vs. Gonzaga, 11 a.m., WCC Tournament
Tuesday, March 9
San Francisco Giants vs. Milwaukee Brewers, 1:10 p.m.
Oakland A's @ Chicago Cubs, 1:05 p.m.
Final, WCC Tournament
Wednesday, March 10
San Francisco Giants @ Chicago Cubs, 1:05 p.m.
Oakland A's vs. Milwaukee Brewers, 1:05 p.m.
Cal Bears (MBB) vs. Stanford Cardinal, 7 p.m., Pac-12 Men's Basketball
Tournament
Thursday, March 11
Golden State Warriors @ Los Angeles Clippers, 7 p.m.
Sacramento Kings vs. Houston Rockets, 7 p.m.
San Francisco Giants vs. Los Angeles Angels, 1:10 p.m.
Oakland A's @ Texas Rangers, 1:05 p.m.
Quarterfinals, Pac-12 Men's Basketball Tournament
Friday, March 12
San Francisco Giants @ Colorado Rockies, 1:05 p.m.
Oakland A's vs. San Diego Padres, 1:05 p.m.
San Jose Sharks @ Anaheim Ducks, 7:30 p.m.
Semifinals, Pac-12 Men's Basketball Tournament
Saturday, March 13
Sacramento Kings @ Atlanta Hawks, 4:30 p.m.
San Francisco Giants @ Cleveland Indians, 1:05 p.m.
Oakland A's @ Cincinnati Reds, 6:05 p.m.
San Jose Sharks @ Anaheim Ducks, 7:30 p.m.
Final, Pac-12 Men's Basketball Tournament
Sunday, March 14
Golden State Warriors vs. Utah Jazz, 1 p.m.
San Francisco Giants vs. Arizona Diamondbacks, 1:10 p.m.
Oakland A's vs. Chicago White Sox, 1:05 p.m.
Enjoy the
 Ultimate Sports Guide website!

Under the ultra-skilled leadership of Cal graduate Ricky Liu, a team of talented Cal students assembled the elegant Ultimate Sports Guide website for your readers. Ricky's team included Natalie Leung, Yafei Liang and Kasey Woo. Visit www.ultimatesportsguide.net
Join Us As A Sponsor!
Economical and rewarding.
Write: sportstoday@ultimatesportsguide.net
or call (510) 845-2035
The vast majority of student-athletes dreaming of athletic stardom won't make it to the pros. Yet, the discipline and skills they've developed while balancing a sport and academics make them ideally suited for satisfying careers elsewhere. In 20 Secrets to Success for NCAA Student-Athletes Who Won't Go Pro, the authors draw on personal experience, interviews, expert opinion, and industry data to provide a game plan for student-athletes through key transitions at each stage of their careers, from high school through college and beyond. Modeled on Stephen Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, this book provides a much-needed strategy for achieving career success. Readable and concise, it will be a valuable tool for students, parents, and sports administrators. To order, click here.
Serean Kimmel, Associate
5980 Stoneridge Drive, Ste. 122
Pleasanton, CA 94588-2723

CalBRE License #:01770629

Agent  510.512.2145
Office  925.847.8900

Many people -- maybe even you -- have been getting out on their bikes more during Shelter-in-Place. "Check for Bikes" clings and bumper stickers are great ways to keep bicyclists safer out there on the road by promoting awareness by drivers to share the road. Keep safe out there and keep your neighbors safe by using or passing along vinyl clings for inside a car window or windshield and
4" circular bumper stickers. We have Youth and Spanish versions, too!
with questions or to order.
Contact Information:
Ultimate Sports Guide
P.O. Box 4515
Berkeley, CA 94704
510-845-2035
The Ultimate Sports Guide is very appreciative to the ongoing contributions made by former staff photographer Kenny Karst, now retired. Mr. Karst continues to contribute through helpful ideas and his archives.